OET interlinear NUM 24:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

כְּ⁠תוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם ל֑⁠וֹ

like_[the],horns_of wild_ox to=him/it

See how you translated this same phrase in [Numbers 23:22](../23/22.md). Here, the pronoun him could refer to: (1) God. In this case, it means God is like the ox. Alternate translation: [he is like the horns of a wild ox] (2) the Israelites. In this case, it means the Israelites are like the ox. Alternate translation: [they are like the horns of a wild ox]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

מוֹצִיא֣⁠וֹ

[is]_bringing_of,it_out

The pronoun him refers to Israel as a nation. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [is bringing Israel out]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

כְּ⁠תוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם ל֑⁠וֹ

like_[the],horns_of wild_ox to=him/it

Balaam is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [he has strength like the horns of a wild ox for him]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יֹאכַ֞ל גּוֹיִ֣ם צָרָ֗י⁠ו

devour nations foes_of,its

Here Balaam is speaking of Israel conquering enemy nations as if Israel would devour them like an animal eating its prey. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [He will completely conquer nations, his adversaries]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

צָרָ֗י⁠ו

foes_of,its

Balaam is using the possessive form to mean the nations that oppose Israel. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the nations that oppose him]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠עַצְמֹתֵי⁠הֶ֛ם

and,bones_of,their

Balaam is using the possessive form to mean the bones that belong to the enemy nations. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and the bones of those nations]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠חִצָּ֥י⁠ו

and,arrows_of,its

Balaam is using the possessive form to mean the arrows that belong to Israel. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and with the arrows that belong to him]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠עַצְמֹתֵי⁠הֶ֛ם יְגָרֵ֖ם וְ⁠חִצָּ֥י⁠ו יִמְחָֽץ

and,bones_of,their break and,arrows_of,its strike

Here Balaam is speaking of Israel utterly destroying its enemies as if it would crush their bones and shatter them with arrows. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and he will completely destroy them]